Best Beaches in St. Maarten: A Local's Guide to 12 Stunning Shores

One Island, 37 Beaches

St. Maarten packs 37 beaches into just 34 square miles -- more beaches per square mile than almost anywhere on earth. You could visit a different one every day for over a month and never set foot on the same sand twice.

The island is shared by two nations, and each side has its own personality. The Dutch side (Sint Maarten) is livelier, with boardwalks and beach bars. The French side (Saint-Martin) leans European, with chic beach clubs, quieter coves, and some of the best snorkeling you will find anywhere in the Caribbean.

After years of driving guests to every corner of this island, these are the 12 beaches we keep coming back to -- the ones we recommend to friends, family, and every visitor who asks.

Dutch Side Beaches

Great Bay Beach -- Philipsburg

If your cruise ship just docked and you want sand between your toes without going far, Great Bay is right there. The mile-long stretch runs along the Boardwalk, lined with restaurants and open-air bars serving rum punches that hit harder than you expect at noon. The water is calm and shallow, sheltered by the curve of the harbor, with turquoise fading to deep blue about a hundred yards out.

Best for: Cruise visitors short on time, shoppers wanting a beach break.

Getting there: A five-minute walk from the cruise terminal. You cannot miss it.

Insider tip: Skip the restaurants nearest the terminal -- they are the most crowded. Walk east past the courthouse to find local spots with better food and half the wait.

Mullet Bay Beach

Ask anyone who lives here to name the most beautiful beach on the Dutch side, and the answer is almost always Mullet Bay. The sand is finer and whiter than anywhere else on the southern coast, and the water shifts from pale seafoam at the shoreline to vivid cobalt further out. Behind the beach, the ruins of an old golf course are slowly being reclaimed by tropical vegetation -- an oddly beautiful backdrop.

Best for: Families, swimmers, anyone who wants a stunning beach without crossing to the French side.

Getting there: Ten minutes from Philipsburg, near the western tip. Small parking area off the main road -- arrive before 10 AM on cruise days.

Insider tip: Walk to the far left end where a rocky outcrop creates a natural tide pool. Quieter, with good snorkeling right off the rocks.

Maho Beach

You have probably seen the videos: a massive jet thundering a hundred feet over sunbathers' heads as it approaches Princess Juliana International Airport. Maho is every bit as thrilling in person. The roar of the engines, the blast of jet wash, the shadow of the plane passing over you -- it makes your heart pound every single time.

We have a full guide on Maho Beach Plane Spotting, including the best times for big planes.

Best for: Aviation enthusiasts, thrill-seekers, anyone who wants a truly unique experience.

Getting there: Fifteen minutes from Philipsburg. The Sunset Bar sits right on the beach with a chalkboard showing the day's flight schedule.

Insider tip: Wide-body jets from North America and Europe typically arrive between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Stay for sunset -- evening flights become silhouettes against a burnt-orange sky.

Simpson Bay Beach

This is the beach where locals go on their days off. A long, gentle curve of sand along the lagoon side, with calm water that barely has a ripple most days. No Boardwalk, no cruise crowds -- just a handful of beach bars, some watersport shacks, and wide-open space. At sunset, the lagoon lights up amber and pink while pelicans dive-bomb for their evening meal.

Best for: Couples, locals, anyone wanting a relaxed day with watersports.

Getting there: Five minutes from the airport along Airport Road. Multiple access points with free parking.

Insider tip: Rent a paddleboard and glide out toward the mangrove islands in the lagoon. You will often spot sea turtles and rays in the crystal-clear water.

French Side Beaches

Orient Bay (Baie Orientale)

The crown jewel. Two miles of blindingly white sand, water so turquoise it looks artificial, and a string of beach clubs serving grilled lobster and chilled rose. The French call it the "Riviera of the Caribbean," and the comparison is not far off. Beach clubs like Bikini Beach, Kakao, and Kontiki rent loungers and umbrellas, with food and drinks brought right to your chair. Water sports concessions offer jet skis, parasailing, and banana boats. The far southern end is clothing-optional and well-marked.

Best for: Beach club lovers, water sports enthusiasts, couples.

Getting there: Twenty-five minutes from Philipsburg, well-signed from the main road.

Insider tip: Visit on a weekday. Even on busy days, walking five minutes south along the sand puts you in open space -- the beach is enormous.

Friar's Bay (Anse des Peres)

This is the beach we take friends to when they say they want "the real St. Maarten." A small, sheltered cove backed by green hills, with calm water shallow enough to wade out fifty yards. The beach bar serves some of the best grilled fish on the island -- you sit with your feet in the sand, the smell of charcoal and garlic drifting from the kitchen, water lapping a few yards away. The kind of place where you plan to stay an hour and leave four hours later.

Best for: Couples, travelers tired of tourist crowds.

Getting there: Turn off the main road between Marigot and Grand Case. A narrow, bumpy road winds down to the cove.

Insider tip: A short trail from the right side of the bay leads over the headland to Happy Bay -- about 10 minutes on foot and absolutely worth it.

Grand Case Beach

Grand Case village is the "Gourmet Capital of the Caribbean," its main street lined with French and Creole restaurants that would hold their own in Paris. The beach runs alongside the village -- soft sand, clear turquoise water, good snorkeling at either end. Spend the afternoon swimming, then walk off the beach straight into a restaurant for mahi-mahi in coconut curry or grilled crayfish.

Best for: Foodies, couples, anyone combining beach time with a world-class dinner.

Getting there: Thirty minutes from Philipsburg on the French side's north coast.

Insider tip: The Tuesday evening "Harmony Nights" street market is worth planning your trip around.

Happy Bay

No road access. You reach it by a 10-minute trail from Friar's Bay that climbs over a rocky headland through low scrub. When the path opens up and you see the bay for the first time -- a perfect crescent of white sand between two headlands, crystal water, total silence except for the waves -- you understand why people make the walk.

Best for: Adventurous couples, solitude seekers, photographers.

Getting there: Park at Friar's Bay and take the trail from the right side. Wear shoes with grip.

Insider tip: Bring everything you need. No facilities, no vendors, no music. That is exactly the point.

Anse Marcel

Tucked into a deep bay almost completely enclosed by green hills, Anse Marcel feels like a private lagoon. The water is flat calm on all but the stormiest days -- more lake than ocean. Toddlers can splash in the shallows safely, and the gentle slope keeps things shallow far from shore.

Best for: Families with small children, anyone wanting guaranteed calm water.

Getting there: Follow signs past Grand Case. A winding road descends into the bay.

Insider tip: Paddle a kayak to the mouth of the bay for excellent snorkeling along the rocky edges.

Pinel Island

Not technically a beach -- an entire tiny island. A five-minute boat ride from Cul-de-Sac deposits you on a speck of land with two beaches, rustic beach bars, wild iguanas that wander right up to your table, and some of the best snorkeling on St. Maarten. The windward side has a rocky shoreline that creates a natural aquarium full of parrotfish, blue tangs, and the occasional nurse shark.

Best for: Snorkelers, families, anyone wanting a private-island feeling.

Getting there: Drive to the dock at Cul-de-Sac (20 minutes from Philipsburg). Boats shuttle every few minutes for a few euros.

Insider tip: Bring your own snorkel gear -- rentals on the island are limited. Best snorkeling is around the rocks on the eastern side.

Baie Rouge

"Red Bay," named for the striking reddish sandstone cliffs framing the western end. Rust-colored rock against white sand and turquoise water -- one of the most photogenic spots on the island. Despite its beauty, it stays relatively uncrowded even on busy cruise days. The snorkeling along the cliffs is excellent: sea fans, brain coral, and colorful reef fish in protected water.

Best for: Snorkelers, photographers, couples wanting beauty without crowds.

Getting there: French side's southwestern coast, near the Lowlands. Short path from the road.

Insider tip: Walk to the far western end where the cliffs create a sheltered cove. Often nearly empty, always stunning.

Cupecoy Beach

The most dramatic beach on the island. Towering sandstone cliffs carved into arches and caves line the shore. The beach splits into pocket coves separated by rock formations, each one feeling private and enclosed. At low tide you can walk between them; at high tide some become their own isolated worlds. Late-afternoon light turns the cliffs gold and makes the caves glow.

Best for: Photographers, explorers, couples seeking a unique setting.

Getting there: Near the Dutch-French border. Steps cut into the cliff lead down from the parking area.

Insider tip: Visit in late afternoon. The golden light on those cliffs makes for photos you will not get anywhere else.

Beach-Hopping by Tour

Seeing multiple beaches in a single day is one of the best ways to experience the island, but driving yourself means navigating narrow roads and fighting for parking at popular spots on cruise days.

Our Beach-Hopping Tour runs five hours and covers Orient Bay, Mullet Bay, and Great Bay Beach -- three beaches across both sides of the island. At $60 per person, it includes transport, cold drinks, and a local guide who will point you to the best swim spots and the beach bars that are actually worth your money.

If you have your own wish list, a private custom tour starts at $450 and lets you design the itinerary. Want Happy Bay, Pinel Island, and Baie Rouge in one day? We will make it happen.

Tips for Beach Days in St. Maarten

Water temperature: Between 78 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Even in January, you walk right in without hesitating.

Sun protection: The tropical sun is significantly stronger than most visitors expect. Wear reef-safe SPF 50+, reapply every two hours, and consider a rash guard for snorkeling. The worst sunburns we see happen on cloudy days.

Currency: The Dutch side uses the Netherlands Antillean guilder, the French side uses the euro, but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere. You may get change in local currency.

Tap water: Safe to drink on both sides -- it comes from a desalination plant.

Cash for beach bars: Most places take cards, but smaller beach bars on the French side may be cash-only. ATMs are available in Philipsburg, Marigot, and Grand Case.

Getting around: No border checkpoint between the Dutch and French sides. The island is small enough that no beach is more than 30 minutes from any other, though traffic gets heavy around Philipsburg on cruise ship days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which beach is best for families with young children?

Anse Marcel and Mullet Bay. Both have calm, shallow water with gentle slopes and no strong currents. Anse Marcel is especially good -- the enclosed bay makes the water almost lake-calm.

Can I visit French side beaches if my cruise ship docks on the Dutch side?

Absolutely. There is no border control -- you cross freely. French side beaches are 15 to 30 minutes by car from the Philipsburg cruise port, and a guided tour is the easiest way to get there without worrying about navigation or parking.

Are the beaches free?

Every beach on St. Maarten is public by law. No entrance fees, ever. Beach chairs and umbrellas at places like Orient Bay typically cost $10 to $20 through the beach clubs. You are always free to bring your own towel and set up on the sand.

What is the best time of year to visit?

Peak season runs December through April, with the driest weather and most comfortable temperatures. But St. Maarten is a year-round destination -- the water is always warm, and even in the wetter months rain comes in short afternoon bursts followed by sunshine. Hurricane season runs June through November, with September and October requiring the closest watch.